God gave us the language to speak harikatha. Jata-ruci-sadhaka (practitioner with a taste for spiritual practice) and ajata-ruci-sadhaka (practitioner with no taste for spiritual practice). Whoever attains ruci awakens bhava for Sri Krsna. To practise spiritual life we need to have sraddha (firm faith) in the Guru and the Sastras. Bhakti-lata-bija is the process of approaching Sri Krsna. Guru grants bhakti-lata-bija, the desire to serve, Krsna-seva-vasana. Conditioned souls have the tendency...
USA 2024
2024, offences, Discourses in English, Eugene, USA, USA 2024
28 Jan 2024 morning – The Process of Sadhu-sanga and Nama-sankirtana (English) – Eugene, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
PART 1 – To obtain manjari-bhava it is necessary to take shelter at the lotus feet of Rupa Gosvami. – Verse: vāco vegaṁ manasah krodha-vegaṁ jihvā-vegam (Sri Upadesamrta, verse 1). – Verse: gurau gosthe gosthalayisu sulyane bhusura-gane sva-mantre (Manah Siksa, verse 1). – Verse: ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ (Siksastaka, verse 1). – Verse: harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā (CC...
2024, conditioned soul, nitya-siddha, Personality: Vedavyasa, stages of bhakti, Vyasadeva, Discourses in English, Eugene, USA, USA 2024
27 Jan 2024 evening – The Importance of Sadhu Sanga (English) – Eugene, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Verse: sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya (CC Madhya-lila 22.54). The four flaws present in the conditioned soul. The different types of saints: karmi-sadhu, jnani-sadhu, yogi-sadhu, bhakta-sadhu. One who does bhajana and sadhana, and connects you to the Lord can be called a sadhu. Vyasa Narada Samvada: the conversation between Vyasadeva and Narada Rsi. Verse: bhakti-yogena samyak praṇihite ’male (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.4). The lila of the manifestation of Srimad Bhagavatam. Verse:...
2024, gopi-bhava, Discourses in English, San Francisco, USA, USA 2024
26 Jan 2024 evening – Vritrasura Katha and the Essence of Srimad-Bhagavatam (English) – San Francisco, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
PART 1 In the story of Citraketu Maharaja, gopi-bhava is made explicit. Our sadhana aims to achieve vraja-parakiya-bhava. Vrtasura manifested from fire. In the past life he was Citraketu Maharaja, an uttama-maha-bhagavata. Siva’s pastime speaking harikatha with Parvati on His lap. And when Citraketu plays with Siva, he is cursed by Parvati to become an asura. Citraketu Maharaja humbly accepted the curse, this is how the Vaisnavas are. Uddhava in Vrndavana. How is it possible that the...
2024, aisvarya, Song: Govinda Damodara Madhaveti, Discourses in English, California, New Vraja (USA), USA, USA 2024, Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
26 Jan 2024 morning – Sweet Glorifications of New Vraja – Maha-tirtha Becomes the Place Where Srila Gurudeva Narayana Gosvami Maharaja Stepped (English) – New Vraja, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
Srila Gurudeva Narayana Gosvami Maharaja was very fond of this place. Beautiful sloka: bhavad-vidhā bhāgavatās tīrtha-bhūtāḥ (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.10) — “My Lord, devotees who are like Yourself are truly the embodiment of holy places. By carrying the Supreme Personality of Godhead in their hearts, You transform all places into places of pilgrimage”. The pure devotees travel all over the world to purify the Earth. Bhakti always wants more, is like a greedy, hungry person. When Bhakti...
2024, Mantra: gopala-mantra, Discourses in English, Badger, USA, USA 2024
25 Jan 2024 – Q&A (English) – Badger, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
The importance and power of maha-prasada. Maha-prasada should never be offered to God twice. Quick offering mantra is 1) gopala-mantra for those who have diksha initiation: 2) Hare Krishna maha-mantra for those who have harinama initiation. Sri Radha steals the heart of Krishna by Her activities, that is why She is called Hara. If you surrender to Krishna, He will hear your prayers. Narottama dasa Thakura, prema in the Ganges Atma-nivedanam: 6 processes. Sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana...
2024, anarthas, self-realisation, Discourses in English, Badger, USA, USA 2024
25 Jan 2024 evening – Krsna is Love and Love is Krsna (English) – Badger, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
PART 1 Love is essential in our life. Everyone wants love in their life, but in this world love is temporary and painful. Difference between love and lust. In the spiritual world there is love, in the material world there is lust. Process of sadhana: from shraddha to prema. From the first to the ninth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam: sambhanda-tattva. The eleventh Canto of the Bhagavatam: abhidheya-tattva. The tenth Canto of Bhagavatam: prayojana-tattva. Sloka: anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy...
2024, Discourses in English, Badger, USA, USA 2024
25 Jan 2024 morning – Goura-lila and Govinda-lila (English) – Badger, USA | Srila BV Vana Maharaja
– For now the heart is like stone, but listening to Goura-lila and Govinda-lila, your heart will melt. – Navadvipa Dhama is no different from Krsna-lila. – Krsna does the rasa dance and Mahaprabhu does the nama-sankirtana-rasa dance. – In Vrndavana there is only one hero, dhira-lalita-nayaka Krsna, and the gopis are called nayikas (heroines). – Radha is a type of heroine called: svadhinabhartrka-nayika (She who controls Her Beloved). – In this material...